Seventeen year old Kyle out to surpass dad's medal haul as he dreams of Commonwealth and Olympic glory.

A teenage cyclist who has set his sights not only on the next Commonwealth Games but also on Olympic glory hopes to surpass the achievements of his father.

Kyle Johnston (17) certainly has sporting success in his blood with dad Raymond being three-times World Duathlon Champion and twice East Kilbride Sports Personality of the Year, while his uncle Bud competed in Triathlon for Scotland in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Aukland, New Zealand.

But far from emulating their success, Kyle wants to add Commonwealth and Olympic titles to his family’s impressive medal haul.

Although a keen athlete and footballer and member of East Kilbride Road Club, Kyle is relatively new to competitive cycling but has brushed off the competition, winning four of his last six races.

And the St Andrew’s and St Bride’s pupil from Calderwood is not only matching but beating the times of older and far more experienced competitors.

At a recent 10-mile time trial in Ayrshire, Kyle set one of the fastest times for a junior this year – an impressive 22 minutes 11 seconds – riding his dad’s old time trial bike.

Kyle told the News: “I have always been a very competitive and determined person but in the last six months I have kept surprising myself and other people.

“I always set out not only to compete but win and my aim is to not only to be up there with my dad but to do even better and be not just World Champion but Commonwealth and Olympic Champion.

“My aim for the next couple of years is to make the Commonwealth team, which if I continue to push forward, I should do.

“And to make it to the Olympics would be a dream come true.”

As well as twice winning the time trials in Ayrshire this month and setting a personal best, he was also the first junior to finish the 45-mile West of Scotland Cycling Association Development Road Race. It was hosted by Glasgow Green Cycle Club on behalf of British Cycling and attracted over 100 entrants.

Kyle finished as first junior and sixth overall.

And with stars of the track descending on Glasgow this month Kyle was delighted to have the chance to watch the likes of Bradley Wiggins who returned to the track after six years to compete in the team pursuit at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

“I couldn’t wait to watch Bradley Wiggins and to see the likes of him in Glasgow. It was a real inspiration. Having the Games here is so exciting,” Kyle went on.

The next step for Kyle after leaving school will be to possibly move abroad to train and join a professional cycling team.

And, central to this will be securing sponsorship as he is currently relying on funding through his family’s scaffolding business.

But no matter what it takes, both Kyle and his family are determined he will succeed.

“I know I will make sport my life and cycling is right up there,” he added.

“Since I was little I have always wanted to pursue a career in sport and, for any reason, if I was told I couldn’t cycle I think it would break me.”

Previous Articles

A SURVEY funded by Transport Scotland found the majority of kids are getting to school under their own steam, while a report released by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has examined public transport trends.